Football previews, 2014

MIDDLETOWN -- The Allentown High School football team was at the Shore Tuesday, but it was no day at the beach for the Redbirds.

Allentown head coach Jay Graber, who has never been afraid to push his team when necessary, was looking for a challenge when he picked up perennial Central Jersey power and nine-time sectional champion Middletown South in a scrimmage. Graber got exactly what he was looking for.

"We were looking to play against a tough, extremely competitive football team and get ourselves into a competitive situation," Graber said. "We need to go against better competition to try and get our kids to play at a higher level.

"They (Middletown South) were good -- big, strong, physical."

Allentown dominated rebuilding Holmdel, the other scrimmage participant, on both sides of the ball.

Middletown South is not only hungry after going 5-5 last season -- the worst in Antonucci's 17-year tenture -- the Eagles were further along both sides of the ball because they have one of the early opening games -- Sept. 6 at Marlboro.

"There's a lot of tradition here and the South kids know it," Graber said.

Graber called the sessions against Middletown South "a wake-up call."

"I think we needed it," Graber said. "I think we played well at times and then there were other points where we lacked consistency."

After playing on relatively even terms with Middletown South on the first couple possession, the Eagles size and power took over.

"It's important for our kids to find out what it takes to be successful when you play a good team like Middletown South," Graber said.

Michael Curry took first-team snaps at quarterback. Running back-linebacker Dean Apostolico was absent from the scrimmage to be with his family after the death of his father.

"We were sloppy. I thought our line play was inconsistent," Graber said. "We will just look at the film and try and get them better."

With Notre Dame head coach Chappy Moore scouting the scrimmage, Allentown did intentionally keep some of its offense under wraps. The Redbirds open against the Irish on Sept. 12